One of the Worship Guitar Class Family members, Pamela, asked about how to care for her guitar. I thought that you may be interested in tips for caring for your guitar too.
Here are some tips to keeping your guitar protected and cared for.
1. Get a guitar case and leave your guitar in the case. I used to suggest leaving your guitar on a guitar stand because it’s easier to remember to play it when it’s in view. Accidents, including earthquakes, can happen and your guitar is more protected in a guitar case.
2. Do not leave it in a hot car. Excess heat can warp and ruin the wood.
3. In dry climates, use a humidifier. You can purchase one specifically made for guitars or make one yourself. To make one, get a small plastic container that can fit inside your guitar case. A traveling container for a bar of soap is the perfect size. Place a wet sponge in the plastic container and make some small holes in the container.
4. Keep a cotton cloth in your case, like a baby’s diaper. This is good for wiping down the instrument. Some people wipe down the guitar strings after playing. This can help to make them last longer.
5. Speaking of strings, change them when they sound dead. Your guitar will sound better. Professional players may change them every few weeks, but you’ll probably want to change them at least every 6 months or so.
6. Wash your hands before you play your guitar. Dirt from your hands can on the strings.
7. Clean the fretboard with very fine steel wool. You can clean away any dirt or grime. When the strings are all off, clean each fret.
8. Periodically polish the wood with a good guitar polish. The guitar gets clean and a well taken care of guitar is less likely to have problems.
Enjoy playing your guitar!
HI Jean, thank you for email on Guitar care. I would like to give some feedback on guitar strings.
I found that most strings for the Acoustic guitar do hurt the fingers for beginners, and even if your more experienced as well.
They do harden up after a while of playing. But I have just tried a set of these below Elixir. They are more expensive but they do last two to three times longer.but THEY ARE SO SOFT TO THE FINGERS. Its fantastic. They are coated to make them last longer, but it makes them feel so so soft. Also a very good tone. You can also get size 12 as well as the ones below, they are only 11. My son has 12 size on, they give a slightly better deeper tone. But are still so soft. I thought that you would like this feed back but you problerly already know about them. But your students may not. Hope this helps.
Elixir Acoustic Guitar Strings Nanoweb Custom Light: Amazon.co.uk
Thanks Derek.
There’s also fretboard conditioner. I got talked into buying it at Guitar Center when I bought my latest strings for my acoustic, Elixir Mediums, the fret board feels much smoother now, and it’s less likely to crack. I have Kyser Lem-Oil, it works great, and it’s only six bucks!
Sounds interesting! I’ve cleaned the fretboard with steel wool, but haven’t heard of the fretboard conditioner before. Thanks Ben!